Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-09-21

Governor TiTzbuSh bees Eloquent
Jribnte TO thc I3e;m Of t',e
snip OF Nintc.
illilliolIhla Press !

Chairman Pepper introduced Gov
c-uor Fiizhugh Lee as the best living
representative Of the great State OF
Virginia, which took such An important
part in framing the Constitution.
When the Governor approached the
presidents position the whole assem-
ulage rose to their feet and applaudei
enthusiastically. Governor Lee said
"Your Exccllency, the President Of
the United States, Mr.. Chairman, In
selecting Il speaker to respond to the
toast lust read / recognize a compl-
mcnt to the great Commonwealth Of
Virginia, rendered not only for the
prominent part she took in the events
we celebrate, but also because she fur
nished one of her citizens to be the
president of the convention which
framed the Federal Constitution. Oh,
if the eyes of the great Washington.
looking from everlasting realms, could
rest upOn this scene, or could his Vi
sion, sweeping from the infinite across
the crystal seas whose waters wash
eternal shores, and behold this great
celebration in this old, historic city, he
would indeed rejoice that the architects
Of the Constitution had erected an edi-
fee which bad not only wlthstood the
sunshine of peace but had also with
stood the rude blasts Of war, and to-
day is stronger, greater, and grlndor-
aye, more assured Of perpeluity-thln
at any hour OF It's existence. Great
cheering.
The common suiIcrings of thirteen
British colonies were transferred into
The glory of thirteen American States,
when on the it'll of July, l77G, the
declaration Of their independence was
passed. Previous to that, however,
good old benjamin Franklin had
skelchcd tie articles Of confederation
and perpetual union between tho States,
aud the year after the Declaration Of
Independence, in TIT, Congresspasse
these articles OF confederation. Weak
from tie beginning, it never left I'M
represented the federal power for
nearly twelve years. Then d change
came. anarchy crept into the fcde-
mi system II was found that the
federal power was not great enough in
some respects. The ship was sinking.
It would have to be brought back to
the shore for repairs lest it SO down,
and il going down bury in the bound
less sea the experiment of free govern
mert founded upon human liberty.
"Ihe crisswas at hand. TWAS now
an impending catastrophe. The hour
for It's dissolution bad almost arrived,
and old highlands lap WAS being pre-
pared for her colonies again. The man
On. where was he, tho patriot who
could come forward and rescue his
country and save the Union OF the
United States -? And, now, may / be
pardoned if l say that old Virgins,
who had cast into the common lot the
sword Of a Washington, the pen of
Jefferson, who had given the eloquence
81 a Henry q more than mortal might,
was equal to this emergency, and pro-
duced James Madison.
This citizen, seeing the impending
danger, offered for the Legislature from
his county and was elected, and it was
due to his efforts that Virginia passed
the resolution requesting the meeting
of delegates from other States to be
held at Annapolis. But four States re-
sponded. New York was there, Della
ware was there, New Jersey was there,
pennsylvania was there And these
representatives, owing largely to the
eforts Of Madison, there passed the
resolutions drawn up by Alexander
Hamilton requesting the legislatures
of the States TO send deputies from all
the States and meet in this city Of Phil
adelphia. And SO the Constitutional
Convention was born. So the trainers
met here on the 25th Of May, 1877.
"But what time that was when
hig-hearted Robert Morris, OF Penn
sylysnia, arose and nominated for the
president OF that convention George
Washington, Esq, late communicating
chief of the colonial forces and de-
puty from Virginia. Applause. 1t
csrie with peculiar grace, We. are told,
from the Pennsylvania delegation, be-
cause she had in her delegation the
only member that could possibly DO
competitor with Washington for that
posiiion. DR.. franklin, the gentleman
10 whom | refer, intended to place
washington in nomination himself, but
The state OF the weather and
his own health prevented him
from being present. Under these
auspices this convention met, and
for four months they labored 10 perfect
a scheme for human government. Oh,
MY friends, what an anxious period
tbnt Was We have seen divisions
charging The fiery heights, while both